ROCHESTER, New York — At the direction of Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New York Army National Guard deployed two CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters, and 11 Soldiers from the Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International Airport to Jacksonville, Florida this morning.
The aircraft and Soldiers are being sent to assist the Florid National Guard in responding to Hurricane Ian, which is hitting the state today.
The two CH-47s, are assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment which is based at Army Aviation Support Facility 3 at the airport.
The 11 Soldiers included aircrew and maintenance personnel.
The CH-47 F can carry 36 people, or over 46,000 pounds of cargo, and fly at 190 miles per hour.
The two aircraft are being sent to Florida through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request for assistance from the state of Florida to New York.
The aircraft will remain overnight in Greenville, North Carolina and are due to arrive in Jacksonville on Thursday.
The aircraft and Soldiers will come under the control of the Florida National Guard and provide airlift support as required.
The New York Army and Air National Guard have deployed personnel and aircraft to assist during hurricane responses in the past.
In October 2018, the New York Army National Guard deployed two CH-47F helicopters, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 25 Soldiers to Florida following Hurricane Michael.
In September 2017, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the New York Army National Guard deployed 60 Soldiers and four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Puerto on board three C-17s flown by the 105th Airlift Wing, based in Newburgh, New York.
The New York Air National Guard also deployed 130 Airmen, two HC-130 Combat King search and rescue aircraft and three HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island following the storms.
The team based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and conducted missions in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The New York Air National Guard crews assisted in mission that rescued 1,582 Americans from the joint French and Dutch-administered island of St. Maarten.
Also in 2017, the New York Air National Guard deployed three HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and crews to Texas in August following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The New York Airmen rescued 546 people using the helicopters and four inflatable Zodiac boats.
New York Army and Air National Guard personnel and helicopters also responded following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
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